Matthew 25
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 In like manner he also who got the two gained another two.
18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.'
21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
22 "He also who got the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.'
23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'
26 "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.
27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away.
30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 In like manner he also who got the two gained another two.
18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 "Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.'
21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
22 "He also who got the two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.'
23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
24 "He also who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.'
26 "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.
27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28 Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away.
30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
What are you praying for? A friend's job situation? Healing for a sick relative?
These are not bad things to pray for. I am not attempting to discourage them. But in amongst all those prayers are you asking that God empower and enable you to witness to the stranger on the street? Are you praying that God break your stubborn, foolish pride where it comes to witnessing?
Now, the breaking of pride seems like a big thing, but if we look at things in context, the act of praying for that breaking, of praying that we be a better witness in our towns, cities and wherever we go should, actually, be a small thing...and yet it is something we should do as often as possible.
I know that, for me, the idea of witnessing brings up an issue I have a very tough time with: being different. I think we all know that fear of witnessing to someone we've never met and having them look at us like we're space aliens who just landed in front of them, space ship and all. We aren't comfortable with being seen as different. We want to blend in...just melt into and become part of the scenery.
God, however, wants us to be set apart from the world...to be different from everyone else. God wants us out of our comfort zones. I don't know about you, but that makes me a bit edgy and uncomfortable. As it is, I struggle with being seen as different because, growing up, I used to wear thick glasses and didn't see as well as all the other kids. This got me branded as different. As most of you know, peer pressure can make kids behave very cruelly. The pressure to conform...to blend in with the other kids can be overwhelming. I grew to really resent being seen as that which I was...different. By nature of who I am, I didn't automatically blend in with the other kids. Things they thought were cool I found to be dumb or uninteresting. Things I thought to be cool, other kids thought to be lame and stupid.
Well, as a Christian, my world view is different, and those who don't believe in Christ see my faith as lame and stupid. I am far too aware of this, and that is what has kept me from not only witnessing to others, but praying for the empowerment and enabling to witness to others from God and His Holy Spirit!
As I said, praying for this power ought to be a small thing. In the parable of the talents, which I quoted above, Jesus tells us that if we are faithful with small things, with a few things, he will entrust us with larger things:
His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.
Matthew 25:21
Matthew 25:21
So, should we be surprised when our ministry flounders and we discover that we haven't been faithful with a small thing such as praying for power, courage and whatever else we require to be a powerful witness for Christ? Is it any wonder that our spiritual engine seems to be stalling when it comes to ministry and we find that we haven't been faithful with the small things? I beseech you that if God puts it on your heart, you pray for the boldness and courage to witness and the discernment of the times and places God wants you to witness. Pray that you might be broken of your selfish pride. Pray that you become able to witness despite that part of you that is all too keenly aware that the rest of the world thinks faith is folly. Remember that to love Christ and not testify to that love is the true folly.
Lord, enable us all with your Holy Spirit. Make us all bold witnesses to you and your grace and mercy...wherever we may be!
